Information
Situation report
Germany, October 1985. How Exercise Red Mist became a shooting war.
FLASH — FLASH — FLASH
FROM: SHAPE, CASTEAU
TO: ALL NATO COMMANDS, CENTRAL ARMY GROUP, NORTHERN ARMY GROUP
SUBJECT: SITUATION ON THE INNER GERMAN BORDER, OCTOBER 1985
Timeline
06 OCT 1985
NATO begins its largest military exercise to date, known as Red Mist. The aim of the exercise is to simulate a response to an outbreak of military conflict along the Inner German Border (IGB). WARPAC denounces the exercise as an act of aggression and places its forward units on a heightened state of alert.
10 OCT 1985
A USAF F-16 is shot down near Helmstedt on the IGB, and its pilot is killed. WARPAC alleges that the aircraft violated its airspace and failed to respond when challenged. NATO strongly denies this and accuses WARPAC of deliberately targeting the aircraft.
12 OCT 1985
The Soviet Border Guard ship Vytegra sinks in the Baltic Sea. WARPAC claims the vessel was attacked by a NATO craft operating in the area.
15 OCT 1985
Three West German BGS officers are killed and eight wounded in an exchange of gunfire with East German Grenztruppen at Marienborn. The DDR refuses to say whether any of its personnel were casualties. Both sides deny starting the engagement.
16 OCT 1985
A missile strike hits Falkenberg Airbase. WARPAC accuses NATO of a dangerous escalation. NATO denies it and alleges a false flag operation.
18 OCT 1985
NATO satellites spot signs of WARPAC troop movements towards the IGB.
21 OCT 1985
Artillery fire erupts between NATO and WARPAC near Helmstedt, causing some materiel losses and light casualties. Both sides accuse the other of starting the engagement, and both claim victory.
23 OCT 1985
Operation Statant commences. NATO puts into action a preliminary strike across the IGB, targeting WARPAC military assets.
Current operations
Operation Statant continues. The fighting has reached the Elbe, where NATO is forcing river crossings. Follow the story through the operations board.